Multiple picture puzzle book



June 25, 1968 E. soLoMrrA ETAL 3,389,914

MULTIPLE PICTURE PUZZLE BOOK r 2/7 2; l 42 im? WU-L 5 i INVENToRs EVELYN50m/WTA Raaf-RTL5. vMnfL/z/s June 25, 1968 E. SOLOMITA ETAL 3,389,914

MULTIPLE PICTURE PUZZLE BOOK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 2, 1964INVENTORS LOM/TA ROBERTLB. GUMA 1 /U5 HTTURNEY United States Patent Oice 3,389,914 MULTIPLE PICTURE PUZZLE BOOK Evelyn Solomita and Robert L.B. Gumaelius, Bayside, N.Y.; said Solomita assignor to Steve G. Weil,New York, N.Y.

Filed Oct. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 401,077 6 Claims. (Cl. 273-155) ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE A puzzle book employing a back and one or more coverswherein a multiplicity of picture elements have hinge mountings betweenthe back and at least one cover and with other parallel hinge mountingswithin peripheral boundaries of the back and at right angles to thehinge cover mounting, so that all of the picture elements are maintainedon the back, with part of these picture elements extendable onto part ofthe cover and in producing solutions to a plural-ity of complete puzzlepictures.

or elements in relationship to each other, preparatory to assemblage ina book, the printing on the various cards or elements as well as thebook back, covers and picture sheet being omitted, the other surface ofthe sheet being also printed in the areas outlined on said firstsurface.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the book in open position,diagrammatically illustrating all of the cards or elements of the puzzlein stacked position and indicating in dot-dash lines picture fragmentsor sections as printed on the book back and covers, part of this showingbeing indicated by broken away portions and parts of the covers beingbroken away.

FIG. 3 is an edge view of the assemblage, as seen in FIG. 2, with partof the structure shown in section as on the line 3 3 of FIG. 2 andomitting part of the background showing to simplify this illustration.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail section on the line 4 4 of FIG. l,diagrammatically illustrating one hinge binding of part of the cards orelements and the attachment thereof to the book back.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged section on the line 5 5 of FIG. 2 showing one cardor element detached and omitting the hinge binder.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 taken on the line 6 6 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic edge view generally looking in the direction ofthe arrow 7 of FIG. 2 showing the book back and the two covers, butomitting the hinge binders and indicating in dotted lines the positionof the cards or elements in the book when the book is in clo'sedposition.

Considering the end product as diagrammatically shown in FIGS. 2 to 7,inclusive, the puzzle book comprises a book back part 10, a wide coverpart .11 and a narrow cover part 12. At 13 are shown conventionalplastic'or other split ring binders commonly known in the art formounting the two covers 11 and 12 in connection with the book back, thebinders passing through apertures 14 in upper and lower` sides of thebook back, one of these 3,389,914 Patented June 25, 1968 being clearlyshown in FIG. 3 of the drawing, the binders passing through similarapertures 15 in the edge portions of the covers 11 and 12, one of theapertures in the cover 12 being also shown in FIG. 3. Other similar ringbinders 13 are employed, one of the same being shown in enlarged sectionin FIG. 4 and these binders are mounted in apertures 16 in side portionsof a picture sheet 17, which is glued or otherwise fixed to the innersurface 18 of the book back 10 centrally thereof, as will appear from alater description.

Mounted in connection with the binder .13 joining the wide cover 11 withthe book back 10 is an upper row 19 of cards or elements 20. A similarbottom row 21 of cards or elements 22 are mounted on the binder hinge 13coupling the narrow cover 12 with .10. Mounted on the ring binders 13are rectangular groups 23 of four cards or elements 24.

To simplify the description, 20, 22 and 24 will be referred to aspicture elements having on both surfaces thereof fragment or sectionalpictures which, in conjunction with pictures on other selected elements,will produce in each solution of the puzzle the proper pictures. It willbe noted clearly, from a consideration of the groups or rows 19 and 21,as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawing on the single sheet 25 which isprinted, die cut and perforated, as later described, that these twogroups are in each of seven printed sections reading from top to bottomin FIG. 1 and some of these printed sections have been designated by thereference character 26. It will be noted that the group 19 of fourelements 20 are narrower than the elements 22 in the group 21 on each ofthe printed areas 26 and that the perforations, `as at 27, which arediagrammatically illustrated by the dot-dash lines in FIG. 1, are atlong si-des of the respective elements. This arrangement is in contrastto the arrangement of the perforations 28 indicated by dot-dash lines inFIG. 1, which are at the narrow sides of the elements 24. The foregoingwill be clearly apparent from the mounting arrangement as shown in FIG.2 of the drawing and, in this figure, the stacks of seven cards in eachof the rows 19 and 2.1 and in the rectangular group 23 are all shown inan assembled relationship one upon the other with the book in openposition. This would ybe the arrangement in which these elements will bepositioned as and when the puzzle book is collapsed, as diagrammaticallyseen in FIG. 7, with the covers 11 and 12 disposed upon said elements asthey are arranged on the inner surface of the book back 10 and with thewide cover 11 overlying the narrow cover 12.

To simplify the illustration in FIG. 2 of the drawing, the perforationsin the elements 20, 22 and 24 have been omitted. One of theseperforations is shown in section at 27 in FIG. 3 and the perforations in24 are shown in section at 2S in FIG. 4 of the drawing. Theseperforations are sutliciently large to provide free movement of thevarious elements on the hinge binders.

Turning now to the showing in FIG. 5 of the drawing, here theperforations, as at 28 at the narrow edge of the elements 24, areindicated on one of such elements. -In contrast to the arrangement ofthe apertures 15 in FIG. 6 of the drawing, the arrangement of theapertures 27 longitudinally of the long edge are diagrammatically shownin one of the elements 20, it being understood that a similararrangement of apertures is provided in the element 22. From this, itwill be noted that the length of the apertures 27 and 28 is sufficientlylong to provide a free movement on as well as engagement with the ringbinders employed.

In addition to the printing of opposed surfaces of the several elementsemployed, the book back 10 has directly printed -on the inner surfacethereof an upper row of four pictures 29, shown by the broken awayportions of FIG. 2. In like manner, the lower edge of 10 has another rowof four pictures 30, indicated by the broken away portions of FIG. 2.The cover 11 has a row of four pictures 31 printed on the inner surfacethereof and the cover 12 has a similar trow of four pictures 32. The rowof pictures 29 and 31 cooperate with the row of elements 20 in producingsolutions to eight complete pictures. This is also true of the two rows30 and 32 cooperating with the elements 22 for a similar purpose. Alsoprinted on the inner surface of the book back at sides thereof are twopictures 33 which cooperate with the elements 24 in providing solutionsto pictures, the elements 24 also operating in conjunction with fourpictures 34 printed on the upper surfac'e of the picture sheet 17 gluedor otherwise fixed to the upper surface of the central portion of thebook back 10 in the solution of the puzzle.

The foregoing now completes the general arrangement and mounting of theelements upon the Ibook back 1t) and the covers 11 and -12 and, in useof the book, the start of solving the eight pictures, which can beproduced in the illustration which is shown by way of designating oneadaptation and -use of the invention, is as follows:

It is preferable that the elements in the upper lefthand corner be usedto start in solving one of the eight problems. This solution can be withthe picture shown in the left of the row of pictures 31 on the cover 11.With this as a start, all of the other elements are swung on the hingebinders to find pictures which will match with the upper surface of thecorner element 20, above identied, and the left-hand picture in theprinted row 31. This solution can be on any surface of the respectiveelements. However, it will -be apparent that, in view of the lhaphazardarrangement of printing which is carried out in the rows 29, 30, 31 and32, as well as in the associated pictures 33, it will be necessary to atleast swing the elements 20 in the stack adjacent the upper left handcorner element 20 onto the row 31 in finding a picture segment whichwill match the left printing 31 and that the stack of elements 24beneath the last mentioned stack of elements 20 will Ibe swung to theleft to bring one of the elements 24 of the stack in position to matchwith the first named corner element 20 and this is repeated throughoutthe several elements. Here, lit is important to point out that, when asolution is found between the upwardly turned element 20 and themovement of the element 24 to the left as described, the exposed picturesegments of the two stacks mentioned, namely the stack 20 and the stack24, will naturally register with the two elements which have been movedinto proper position. This will be carried out through the remainder ofthe elements and their movements -into solution positions.

From the foregoing, it is quite understandable that, in the printing ofa segment of a picture on one element, it is essential that the printedsegment on the reverse side of the element will register with theassociated element in any one of the rows or groupings of the respectiveelements. Further, in the printing operation, it is essential that thepicture fragments or sections are properly arranged on each of theelements. In other words, the exposed surface of the element will alwayshe in proper readable arrangement on the solution picture.

'I'he foregoing is an important factor in lthe method of printing bothsurfaces of the sheet 25 in proper registration with the several printedtareas 26 which will register with each other on opposed surfaces of thesheet 25.

In printing the book lback 10 and the covers 11 and 12, no printing willtake place in the area 18 of the book back where the picture sheet 17 isattached, as previously described. Here, it is well to point out thatthe picture sheet 17 is printed on one surface only. However, otherprintings can be applied to the area 11' of the cover 11 and 12' of thecover 12 and outer surfaces of the book back 10 and the two covers canhave printings thereon. The book back preferably has small reproductionsof each of the eight picture solutions thereon, particularly in helpingchildren to determine Whether or not they have a proper solution;whereas, the front surfaces of the two covers can be characterized withadvertising, title, etc. The printed areas 11' and 12' are utilized forinstructions or other descriptive matter.

It is also deemed desirable that the two adjoining center pictures 32 onthe cover 12 and exposed surfaces of the elements 22, or in other wordswhen these elements 22 are arranged upon the two printed areas 32mentioned, will have printed thereon descriptive details with regard tothe solved puzzle, particularly when the pictures of the solved puzzledeal with animals, birds and the like to give their proper names andother information which would be of interest to the user of the puzzle.

In the method of producing puzzles of the type and kind, in addition tothe printing of the sheet 25, this sheet is then die cut in horizontallines, such as 35 in the rows -19 and 21, 36` in the groups of elements23 and in vertical lines 37 in the rows 19, 21 and 38 in the groups 23.These die cuttings all have small uncut areas, all of which have beenidentiiied by the reference character 39 which hold the various rows andgroups of elements together. The bordering die cuttings of the pairs ofrows 19, 21 and of the groups 23 will, however, be complete, so that thejoined rows 19 and 21 and the four cards of the groups 23 can be handledfor assemblage in the book on the respective ring binders employed,after which, the respective elements in the rows and groups can besevered one from the other, facilitating the operation of the puzzle.

In the above die cutting operation, all of the elements of the rows andgroups are also perforated. Parts of the perforations 27 in one of therows have been indicated in the lower groups of rows in FIG. l, as wellas part of the perforations 28 in the lower group 23. However, tosimplify the showing in FIG. 1, all of the other perforations have lbeenillustrated by dotdash lines. While the rows and groups of elements areperforated, the perforations 14, 15 and 16 in the book back 10, covers11 and 12 and the printed sheet 17 are also formed and the sheet 25 isdie cut, forming the borders of the book back 10, the covers 11 and 12and the printed sheet, facilitating removal thereof from the unitarysheet 25, as and when the rows and groups of elements are removed.

In attachment of the rows 19 and 21 of elements, it will be understoodthat the row of elements 19 are iirst severed from the row of elements21 in each of the printed areas 26 after they have been jointly removedfrom the sheet 25 to facilitate assemblage of each of the rows on theirrespective binders; whereupon, the elements in each row are severed fromeach other.

By prearrangement, positioning of the two rows of elements 19 and 21 onthe ring binders will be so arranged as to produce the desired problemin solution, insofar as one row deals with stacked cards in anassociated row.

From a manufacturing standpoint and in order to facilitate relationshipthereof, the sheet 25 could be printed on at least one surface thereofto designate arrangement of the rows, as well as the groups one withrespect to the other or the printing could be so arranged on the sheetsthat the upper area of FIG. 1 having the two rows 19 and 21 can beplaced on the next adjacent area and so on, down through the sheet 25and, then, the rows of each area severed and this would provide thedesired arrangement of the respective rows one upon the other in thestacking in the book as illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawing. The samething can apply to the arrangement of the groups 23 one upon the other.

In the layout of printing the various printed sections on the cards orelements as they are arranged on the overall sheet 25, as well as theprintings of picture segments on 10, 11 and 12 and the sheet 17, alayout is made to distinguish top pictures of the cards or elements fromwhat would be bottom pictures of said elements, in other words, picturesegments which are printed on the sheet 25, as shown in FIG. 1, fromthose that would be printed on the reverse side of this showing. In likemanner, the picture printed on the inner surfaces of 10, 11 and 12 willbe distinguished from the pictures printed on the exposed surfaces ofthe picture sheet 17. This having been done in any one puzzle, the sameidentification characters can be utilized in printing many other typesand kinds of puzzles produced according to the present invention. Here,it is also well to point out that the puzzle book can be educational,illustrative or amusing and entertaining.

As an alternative in the method of procedure for producing the finalpuzzle book, the work sheet can simply be printed and perforated to formthe various apertures 27 in the rows 19 and 21, 28 in the groups 23, 14and 15 in the book back and covers and 16 in the sheet 17. Further, thedie cutting, as at 37 on the rows 19 and 21, will be dispensed with, aswell as the die cutting 36 and 38 on the groups 23.

From the foregoing, it Will be apparent that all of the elements 24 onthe groups 23 will be on uncut sheets; whereas, the elements in each rowwould be unsevered. Naturally, the bordering die cutting of the worksheet'25 forming the boundaries of 19, 21, 23, 17 and 10, 11 and 12 willbe formed.

The procedure which will then be followed will be to mount the rows 19and 21 of joined elements on the ring binders 13 and mount the cardsdefining the groups 23 on the ring binders 13 with the sheet 17 securedto the central portion of the book back 10 and, if the covers 11 and 12have been attached to the ring binders 13, these covers would be movedonto the outer surface of the book back and the rows 19 and 21 will bemoved into positions beyond the bound edges of the book back or, inother words, assuming positions similar to the pictures 31 and 32 havingthe dot-dash outlines, as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawing. Then, in asingle die cutting operation, the die cuts, as at 36 and 3S on thegroups 23, can be formed and controlled so as to not injure the bookback 10 and the die cuttings, as at 37, FIG. 1, will be made in theextended rows 19, 21, thereby severing all of adjacent elements of thepuzzle book. It will be understood that, in mounting the rows 19 and 21on the binders, these rows would be severed along the die cut lines inmaking this assemblage by breaking the uncut areas 39 on the die cutlines 35.

The foregoing method of procedure has the advantage of maintaining thepictures in each row 19, 21 and further provides a free, clean severanceof the pictures in each row, as well as the pictures in the groups 23for free movement in solving the various pictures of the puzzle.

Having fully described our invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A puzzle book comprising a book back, two covers, means hinging thecovers to opposed edges of the back, a row of picture elements mountedon each of said hinge means for movement from the back onto a surface ofthe covers when said covers are in open position, a picture sheet havinga plurality of pictures thereon secured centrally to an inner surface ofthe back, said picture sheet having at side edges hinge means at rightangles to the first named hinge means and disposed within edgeboundaries of said back, groups of picture elements mounted on the lastnamed hinge means for movement into two positions upon said innersurface of the back, hinge edge portions of said back adjacent saidpicture sheet having rows of pictures applied directly to the innersurface thereof, similar rows of pictures being applied to innersurfaces of the covers adjacent said first named hinge means, otherpictures being applied to the back beyond the second named hinge means,the pictures of all of said elements constituting fragments of completepictures disposed on both side surfaces of the elements, and thepictures on said picture sheet and those applied to inner surfaces ofthe back and said covers having association with predetermined elementshingedly supported in connection with the puzzle book in producingsolutions of a plurality of complete puzzle pictures.

2. A puzzle book as defined in claim 1, wherein one cover is wide andthe other cover is narrow, and the row of picture elements mounted onthe hinge means of the narrow cover being larger in size than the row ofpicture elements mounted on the hinge means for the wide cover.

3. A puzzle book as defined in claim 2, wherein the picture elementsmounted on the hinge means of said picture sheet are of the same size asthe picture elements mounted on the hinge means of said wide cover.

4. A puzzle book comprising a book back and a cover, means hingedlysupporting the cover to the back, said hinge means forming a pivotalmounting of a plurality of longitudinally alined picture elementsmovable onto inner surfaces of the back and cover, means at right anglesto the first hinge means and entirely withinperipheral edges of the backfor hingedly mounting a plurality of other and transversely alinedpicture elements on the inner surface of the back for movement intodifferent positions only on the inner surface of the back, each of saidfirst named and said other picture elements having on opposed surfacesthereof fragment pictures of a complete picture in a haphazardarrangement, and all of said picture elements cooperating to formsolutions to a plurality of complete pictures inproper arrangement ofthe elements on inner surfaces of the back and cover when the cover isin open position.

5. A puzzle book as defined in claim 4, wherein inner surfaces of theback and cover have picture fragments of different characteristics toeach other in position to register with picture fragments on saidelements in the solution of different complete pictures of the puzzle.

6. A puzzle book as defined in claim 5, wherein a secondary cover ishingedly coupled with the back, and the hinge of the secondary coversupporting a plurality of additional picture elements movable onto theback and said second cover.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 942,536 12/1909 Bartsch 273-1551,076,257 10/ 1913 Wiltz 40--102 1,300,891 4/1919 Staton 273--1552,314,790 3/ 1943 Jenter 35-54 FOREIGN PATENTS 226,174 12/ 1959Australia.

1,093,223 11/1954 France.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.

